The Ford Barn

flathead 53 · 07-06-2016, 07:17 PM

I took my 40 coupe out for a drive today ,ran great as always .went to start it to put it back in the garage and would not start at all. checked for spark ,good blue spark , checked fuel pump ,pumped fuel into a can , pulled plugs they were ash gray and not wet at all, I am getting a good spark ,getting fuel but not starting ,totally confused.

Lanny · 07-06-2016, 07:30 PM

Timing gear bit the dust ?

.

flathead 53 · 07-06-2016, 08:00 PM

I was a hoping it wasn't the timing gear , how hard is it to change ?

flathead 53 · 07-06-2016, 08:08 PM

will engine need to be removed?

Barlea · 07-06-2016, 09:04 PM

If it's the timing gear it will sound different when cranking, wheezing and whinnying.....

cmbrucew · 07-06-2016, 09:22 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

If it is pumping gas, the cam gear is turning.
Bruce

Kube · 07-06-2016, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flathead 53

I took my 40 coupe out for a drive today ,ran great as always .went to start it to put it back in the garage and would not start at all. checked for spark ,good blue spark , checked fuel pump ,pumped fuel into a can , pulled plugs they were ash gray and not wet at all, I am getting a good spark ,getting fuel but not starting ,totally confused.

Where exactly did you check for spark?

Seth Swoboda · 07-06-2016, 09:55 PM

I agree with Kube, where is the spark. It is more likely a simple ignition problem than a timing gear.

Ken/Alabama · 07-06-2016, 10:26 PM

Pour a little gas down the throat and give it a try. Maybe float stuck in carb.

fortyfords · 07-07-2016, 07:00 AM

Squirt a little gas in one cylinder and see if it will try and start.

Capt Kirk · 07-07-2016, 07:36 AM

It needs fuel, spark, compression and timing.
Is the accelerator pump squirting fuel into the throat? Is the float stuck and just flooding the engine? Check a couple cylinders for compression? I have read and had some experience that spark plugs can spark in free air but differently or not at all in a compression environment.
Exhaust/muffler plugged?
Just some thoughts...

big job · 07-07-2016, 09:07 AM

[QUOTE=Lanny;1319957]Timing gear bit the dust ?

timing gears and timing chains just about always bite the dust on shut
down > when the compression gives that little 'rock back' & JUMP... that will
cause valve timing off 'valve a little open on compression'. Quick test
give it a little throttle ignition off hit the starter with your hand over
the carb. If you have little or no suction it jumped time. If it wants to
swallow your hand then thats good. Example, we have a 49- 50 F6
(look all the same to me) engine is green and I really believe its a
Mercury. No way it will start, but starts if towed. Extremely quiet just
hear the fan. Shut it off - hand over carb. no suction at all, so it needs
to suck to draw fuel. This case could be carb gaskets, intake gasket, that
I bet is bad, and not timming cause it runs so perfectly once towed.
Thats what I would do "hand over carburetor for suction" Also these
carb. throttle body to bowl gaskets are know to shrink over time causing
a leak Like drilling a hole in ya throat now you cant breathe or suck
fuel.... Hope it helps get the message cause I flunked english 60 yrs
ago thank heaven for spell check sam

when all is good it should be running fast as you hit the button !!!

07-06-2016, 07:17 PM	#1
flathead 53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: central nj Posts: 717	1940 ford not starting I took my 40 coupe out for a drive today ,ran great as always .went to start it to put it back in the garage and would not start at all. checked for spark ,good blue spark , checked fuel pump ,pumped fuel into a can , pulled plugs they were ash gray and not wet at all, I am getting a good spark ,getting fuel but not starting ,totally confused.

07-06-2016, 07:30 PM	#2
Lanny Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mn Posts: 2,411	Re: 1940 ford not starting Timing gear bit the dust ? . __________________ If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. But if daddy ain't happy...RUN

07-06-2016, 08:00 PM	#3
flathead 53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: central nj Posts: 717	Re: 1940 ford not starting I was a hoping it wasn't the timing gear , how hard is it to change ?

07-06-2016, 08:08 PM	#4
flathead 53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: central nj Posts: 717	Re: 1940 ford not starting will engine need to be removed?

07-06-2016, 09:04 PM	#5
Barlea Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Central Alberta Posts: 441	Re: 1940 ford not starting If it's the timing gear it will sound different when cranking, wheezing and whinnying.....

07-06-2016, 09:22 PM	#6
cmbrucew Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North of sandy ago, CA. Posts: 2,064	Re: 1940 ford not starting Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) If it is pumping gas, the cam gear is turning. Bruce __________________ Works good Lasts long time

07-06-2016, 09:55 PM	#8
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 3,791	Re: 1940 ford not starting I agree with Kube, where is the spark. It is more likely a simple ignition problem than a timing gear.

07-06-2016, 10:26 PM	#9
Ken/Alabama Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 3,260	Re: 1940 ford not starting Pour a little gas down the throat and give it a try. Maybe float stuck in carb.

07-07-2016, 07:00 AM	#10
fortyfords Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: faucett, mo Posts: 419	Re: 1940 ford not starting Squirt a little gas in one cylinder and see if it will try and start.

07-07-2016, 07:36 AM	#11
Capt Kirk Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Clarkston MI Posts: 830	Re: 1940 ford not starting It needs fuel, spark, compression and timing. Is the accelerator pump squirting fuel into the throat? Is the float stuck and just flooding the engine? Check a couple cylinders for compression? I have read and had some experience that spark plugs can spark in free air but differently or not at all in a compression environment. Exhaust/muffler plugged? Just some thoughts... __________________ 35 Ford Cabriolet 56 Chevy Pickup 63 VW Bug Empty wallet

07-07-2016, 09:07 AM	#12
big job Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Dighton, Mass Posts: 1,230	Re: 1940 ford not starting [QUOTE=Lanny;1319957]Timing gear bit the dust ? timing gears and timing chains just about always bite the dust on shut down > when the compression gives that little 'rock back' & JUMP... that will cause valve timing off 'valve a little open on compression'. Quick test give it a little throttle ignition off hit the starter with your hand over the carb. If you have little or no suction it jumped time. If it wants to swallow your hand then thats good. Example, we have a 49- 50 F6 (look all the same to me) engine is green and I really believe its a Mercury. No way it will start, but starts if towed. Extremely quiet just hear the fan. Shut it off - hand over carb. no suction at all, so it needs to suck to draw fuel. This case could be carb gaskets, intake gasket, that I bet is bad, and not timming cause it runs so perfectly once towed. Thats what I would do "hand over carburetor for suction" Also these carb. throttle body to bowl gaskets are know to shrink over time causing a leak Like drilling a hole in ya throat now you cant breathe or suck fuel.... Hope it helps get the message cause I flunked english 60 yrs ago thank heaven for spell check sam when all is good it should be running fast as you hit the button !!!